Improvement in brick-machines



-thrited Sicilia @sind PETER J. SMI'IH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, CON- -RAD B. ANDRESS, BENJAMIN'F. PINE, HORATIO G. SIOKEL, THOMAS WOODS, AND

J OHN Q. GINNODO, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 96,985, dated November 16, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRICK-MACHINES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part'of the same.

-Nrn- My apparatusconsists of anl intermittent rotating mould-wheel, in which ithertcmpered or untenpered clay is moulded aml pressed, a vertical hopper, from which the moulds receive -their charge of clay in regular succession, and suitable devices for pressing and discharging the bricks.

'Ihe novelty .of the invention mainly consists of an external pressure-plate, combined and arranged with levers which have a reciprocating movement, whereby it is brought, in succession, into connection with the.

outer iiat Surface of each mould inthe revolving mould-wheel, and, in connection with such arrangement, a-novel device, which gives an outward pressnre to the innerl piston of each mould, so as to produce a second pressure to each brick, for the more perfect consolidation ofthe same.

It further consists in so constructing the bottoms of the moulds as to have a solid surface for the main and middle portion ofthe hottoms'of the inner pistons to lrest upon, and an open space in the remaining part V of the bottoms of the mouldsfor the discharge of loose clay, which passes through the joints .ofthe pistons.

'The .construction and operation o'f the improved machine will be understood bythe following descripcaljbars K Ii Vand K K'.

tion.

In the accompanying drawings, which make a part of .this .specification- Figure l is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is au end view of the same.

Figure 3, Sheet N o. 2, is a side view of the mouldwheel B..

Figure 4 is a vertical section, at the line a; :z: of fig. 3. yFigure is a top view of the levers N N', connecting-bais-M M, and shafts L L', in connection, as seen in figs. 1 andQ, the pawl g being in connection with Y the lever N, as shown in lig. 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the saine, at the line c d of tig'. 5. A

Figure 7 is an isometrical view of the retaining pressure-plate S.

Figures 8 and 9 are views, at right angles with each other, of the shaft T, camV m', and lever P.

Figures 10 and 11 are like views of the lcver J A is the standing frame of the machine.

l isV a mould-whecl, on the horizontal-revolving shaft O, the moulds a being at radii with the shaft.

The said mouds are provided with pistons E, which rest upon the outerperiphery of the rim b, when the clay is receiving its first pressure, there being open spaces, 1, at the sides of the moulds, as seen in tig. 4, which admit of loose clay falling through, as it works through the joints of the pistons, and also of readily cleaning out the moulds, thus removing a difficulty which exists when the bottoms of the moulds are closed at all sides.

The rods c, ofthe pistons, it inthe holes c' of the rim` which are clearly seen in figs. 3 and 4.

When tempered clay is used in makingthe bricks,

I usually employ a screw for filling it into the moulds,

but for unt-empered clay, which is previously pulverized or brought into a propel' condition for moulding, I use a vertical hopper, F, as represented in figs-.1 and 2, the moulds a receiving their supply of clay therefrom as the wheel B revolves in the direction of the arrow.

'Ihe amount of clay tobe vpressed into each mould in succession, is regulated by the adjust-able gate d, which is held securely, by means of screws c, or other convenient device, against the vertical projection 11", oft-he hopper F, which guides the piston G.

H is the driving-shaft, which has on one cnil thc wheel I, which servesas a pulley, to receive a beltl for -driving the machine. A gear-wheel, to .be couuected with a driving pinion, may take the place of the pulley. y

There is a cam-wheel, I', on the other end o f the shaft, which operates the lever J, for discharging the bricks from the moulds, as hereinafter described.

'lhewheels I and I' are provided with crank-pins f f, for the connection of the lower ends of the verti- 'Ihe upperends -of the former are jointedv to the outer. ends pf lthe bars M M, by means' of the horizontal rod L. The other ends ofthe latter bars have a like connection with ,the levers N N' at theouter Aends of the latter, by means of the rod L', the inner ends of the levers tting on the. shaft O.

The lever N, inv the downward movement ot" said crank-pins f, gives a pullingY motion to the pawl g, which connects successively with t-he teeth 'h of the ratchet-wheel O, on the far side of the mould-wheel B; and,as`ii1 the upward movement of the pins in the revolutions of the wheels I I', theI pawl is disengaged, the mould-wheel remains in a state of rest as each mould successively' comes to the point 1, and during Vthe downward pressure of the piston G, which is effected by means of the joint connect-,ion ofthe Vsaid piston with the inner ends of the levers Q, by

means of the connecting-rods ory bars It R, and the connection of said levers at their outer ends with the upper ends of the bars K K', by means of the horizont-al rod L".

This motion of the piston is effected during thezupward movement of the crank-pins ff.

lhe upward movement of the piston', to a point its charge of clay, to pass immediately under it, is

effected during the downward movement of the crankpins ff, but this motion of the piston is withheld until the brick just pressed has passed from under the piston, by a. sliding motion of the out-er. face of the brick, so as to in'event the. tearing-- of the latter1 which frequently octurs in other machines whose ristons recede from the brick in a direction at right angles with the faces of the latter.

This great dcsideratlun is accomplished by means ofthe slots li i, in which the ends of the rod L' traverse, until the lnould passes-the piston.

A second pressure is given to each brick insucccssion, after the condensed air has passed therefrom and the moulds :rrive at the point 3, so as to perfcetly consolidate the former, and in tbc following manner: y

'lhere is a retainiiig-pressure plate, S, hinged to the levers N N', by means of pinsjj, on the ends of the former, as seen in tig. 7, and horizontal grooves lf, in the vinner sides ofthe levers, whereby a free' play isgivcn to the plate, to permit its passing in succes- .sion around the concentric parts l ofthe mouldwheel B, and to allow of its being brought firmly against. the fiat faces l ot'the moulds, before this pressure is given. Thcfhiuging may, however, be done in any othcrtconvenient manuel'.

In the up 'ard motionof the levers. effected duringr the upward movement ot' the criurk-pinsj'j, the bars M have a partial turn ou the rod'L, so as to `l'ree the cams, or projections m, yon the inner ends of the bars, from the rctainiiig-pressure plate S, that the latter may pass around the concentric parts Z of the -mould-u'heel freely VThe bars are rarested in their movement on the rod 11, after the cams are freed from the plate, by the plus 11, which project from the sides of the bars M, coming against the projections 0, on the Vends of the levers N N.

In the downward movement of the crank-pinsff, by which the bars K K are drawn downaw'd, the movement of the inner ends of the bars M M, yon the rod L', is reversed, whereby the cams m are brought hard against the retaining pressure plate S, forcing it lirmly against the flat part l of the mould, and a pressure on the inner face ofthe brick is produced, to complete its consolidation, by means of the earn m', on the inner end of the shaft T, which has a bearing in the lever N', as the latter descends into the position indicated by red lines in fig. l, the descent ofthe levercausitig'a. partial turning of the shaft. 'l, by the level' Pfconnected therewith, being held at its outer end between the pins q q, which project inwardfrom the frame A.

The levers N N', and parts in connection with their outerends, and the pawl g. on the inner side 0f the lever N, are shown in detail in figs. 5 and 6, the retaining-pressure plate S, in tig. 7, and the shaft T, and parts connected tlnnewith, in tigs. 8 and 9.V

lhebricks are discharged from the moulds a., as they successively arrive at the point 7, verticalwith the. shaft C, by means of the lever J, which is actuated hy the cam jr, on thc periphery of the wheel I', the camv bearing against the friction-wheel s, in the outer end of thel lever, whereby its inner end isthrown downward into the position indicated by red lines in lig. l, andthe friction-wheel s', on its inner side, by bearing upon the end of the piston-rod c, pushes the` piston G through the mould, and discharges the brick upon an endless apron lor other convenient device, by which it is removed. v

A above described, the mould-wheel B receives an intermittent motion, by the action ofthe pulling-pawl g, to lill the moulds a, and provide for the pressure of the bricks in succession, and their tlisclnn'gus,v from the mould, the bricks receiving in succession a. tirst pressure by meansl of the, piston G, a second pressure by the joint action ofthe retainilig-pressure plate S, and thc cam m', and their discharge from the moulds by means of the lever J. l i

This machine, in consequence of its simplicity and convenient mode ot'iilling the moulds, is well azlapted to the pressure ot' peat, compound fuel, and other things.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl l, The external pressurefplate S, supported between levers N N, by pins j, slidilnr in slots lf, and operated by cams m my upon connecting-lans M M, all constructed and arranged as herein set forth. v

2. jhe combimition ofthe shaft T, having a cam,

m', on its inner cud, und the lever P connected with,

its outer end, the said lever being heldat its outer end by pins q q, whereby the said-cam mf has a partial turn given it, and produces a second pressure on the bricks in its action ou the ends ofthe piston-rod c, substantially as described.

In testn'lony that the above is myiuvention, I have.

'hereunto setmy hand and atiixcd my seal, this 20th day ot' April, lSi).

PETER J. SMITH. [L s] Titnesses z STEPHEN Us'r/roK, W. W. Dooollnarv. 

